Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 NLT
In Romans 12:2, we are encouraged not to "copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." This transformation begins when we align our thoughts with God's thoughts, especially regarding salvation.
One crucial aspect of thinking God's thoughts about salvation is understanding His definition of sin. Under the New Covenant, sin is often described as "missing the mark." But what mark are we missing? According to the New Testament, the ultimate mark is love, the God kind of love. Jesus gave us a new command, to love. Paul summed up the morality of the Law and commandments as walking in love.
Actions such as sexual immorality, lying, cheating, dishonoring others, and stealing all fall short of this divine standard of love. Therefore, sin, in essence, is missing the mark of love. We cannot let religious tradition, this fallen world, or the ever-changing culture define sin. God's Word remains clear and unchanging—sin is anything that falls short of His perfect love.
Religious tradition says things like watching television, going to a dance, or women cutting their hair and wearing makeup are sinful deeds. Many say men having long hair or getting a tattoo is sinful. Some say listening to music that isn't church hymns is sinful. We must stay with the Word, not the world or religious tradition.
In thinking His thoughts about salvation, it's also essential to recognize that not everyone is saved. Salvation is not an automatic or forced gift. God offers salvation to all, but He respects human free will. Grace extends the invitation of salvation to everyone, but each person must freely choose to accept and receive it through faith. Salvation is by grace through faith.
For it’s by God’s grace that you have been saved. You receive it through faith. It was not our plan or our effort. It is God’s gift, pure and simple. You didn’t earn it, not one of us did, so don’t go around bragging that you must have done something amazing. Ephesians 2:8-9 Voice
It is not based on human effort or striving to make ourselves acceptable to God. Salvation is not "lordship salvation," where sinful man makes promises to cease sinning, pledging to live perfectly, and then earns God's approval. This approach places the focus on human effort rather than God's grace. True salvation is a gift of grace, accepted by faith in Jesus alone. It’s about receiving eternal life—not through works, but through trust in Jesus and His finished work on the cross.
Salvation, at its core, is about being saved from eternal separation in hell and entering into a loving relationship with a gracious and good Father. God is not a distant taskmaster waiting for us to get it right before He saves us. Instead, He is a loving Father, extending His arms wide through Jesus, offering forgiveness, grace, and eternal life. Salvation is not merely about avoiding hell, but about being saved *unto* a life of intimacy, grace, and relationship with God.
In summation let's renew our minds to what God says. Let's think God's thought about salvation. We must reject worldly and cultural influences distorting salvation's true meaning. In the same way, religious traditions that place the burden of salvation on human effort must be challenged. God’s grace is sufficient, and faith in Jesus is all that is required to be saved.
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
